Explain projects pending with your ministry, CM tells Rawat
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 8
The war of words between the Union Water Resources Minister Harish Rawat and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna has failed subside. This time the state government has asked the Union Minister about the project proposals of irrigation and flood control measures pending with his ministry.

Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, talking to mediapersons here today, stated that his government had been fully committed to the development of the state and there has been no laxity on the part of the state government regarding implementation of Central projects.

Reacting to the allegations made by Harish Rawat, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna said that a team of officials of Uttarakhand government would be going to New Delhi in a day or two to discuss about the progress made on the Central projects referred to by Harish Rawat.

Bahuguna said that he would also be personally going to New Delhi to meet the union ministers concerned regarding the projects referred to by Harish Rawat. “I would be going to New Delhi on April 15 to participate in the Chief Ministers’ conference conveyed by the Prime Minister and has sought appointments with all the ministers concerned for April 16 and 17,” he said.

He also requested the Union Water Resources Minister Harish Rawat to accompany him during his talks with the Union ministers to sort out all the pending issues regarding the Central projects to be implemented in the state.

On the demand by Harish Rawat to constitute a high-level committee headed by state Chief Secretary to monitor Centrally-sponsored project, the Chief Minister replied that already such a committee had been working under the Chief Secretary.

Firing a fresh salvo at Union Minister Harish Rawat, Uttarakhand Congress chief and state Irrigation and Revenue Minister Yashpal Arya, who flanked the Chief Minister, said that Harish Rawat should also explain about the proposals regarding various irrigation and flood control projects pending with the Union Water Resources Ministry. Yashpal Arya said that project proposals worth Rs. 569 crore are pending with the Union Water Resources Ministry.

The Chief Minister announced that he would be meeting his Himachal Pradesh counterpart Virbhadra Singh on April 15 and would discuss the Kishau hydropower projects with him. The 660 MW Kishau dam project, besides providing power, would also help in augmenting drinking water availability in five northen states. “ The Centre will bear 90 per cent cost of the project. So we are very keen for early start of the project,” he added.

He further said that a team of officials headed by Chief Secretary would be visiting Shimla to chalk out the modalities of the project. 

Bahuguna Speak

• A team of Uttarakhand government officials will go to Delhi in a day or two to discuss about the progress made on the Central projects referred to by Harish Rawat
• I will personally go to New Delhi to meet the union ministers concerned regarding the pending projects
• Bahuguna has asked Rawat to accompany him during talks with the Union ministers to sort out all pending projects
• Chief Minister to meet Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on April 15 to discuss the Kishau hydropower project with him

Final Cong list for civic poll may be delayed
No end to infighting within the ruling party 
Last date of filing nominations is April 12
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 8
There seems to be no end to the infighting within the ruling Congress in Uttarakhand despite the start of the nomination process for the crucial civic elections in the state. It was believed that due to major differences amongst senior party leaders, the finalisation of the names of the candidates for the civic polls would be delayed.

The last date of filing nominations is April 12. The Uttarakhand Congress chief, Yashpal Arya, has convened a meeting of all the four Congress MPs and one Rajya Sabha MP to discuss the issue of civic polls.

Union Water Resources Minister Harish Rawat in a letter written to the Uttarakhand Party chief Yashpal Arya has expressed his inability to attend the meeting due to his prior appointments elsewhere. However, in his letter he has let his resentment known to the state party leadership on the issue of civic polls. He has reportedly written that he was never consulted on the civic polls and the delimitation of the wards by the party leadership. So the party should also decide about the candidates of the party in his absence.

Harish Rawat, who is a known detractor of the Chief Minister Bahuguna and state party chief Yashpal Arya, has also objected to some comments made by a party spokesperson on his raising the issue of delay in the implementation of the Central projects in Haridwar. He reportedly asked that whether it was a sin to raise such developmental issues as a dedicated party worker.

According to party sources, the hardened stance of Harish Rawat would delay the finalisation of the names of the party candidates for the civic polls. It was hoped that Congress Party would finalise the names by April 11 as the candidates have to file their nominations on the last date of nominations on April 12.

The party leaders said that the first list of the party candidates which are unanimous party candidates at various civic bodies would be released by April 10.

Haridwar MP now blames BJP for delay in projects
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, April 8
Union Minister for Water Resources Harish Rawat, who had questioned the working of the Congress government led Vijay Bahuguna government, has now put the onus on the previous BJP government for delay in providing land to many projects.

Harish Rawat also targeted the bureaucracy for its lackadaisical attitude and working when it came to development projects in the state.

“I respect Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna for his vision and welcome his reply to my letter. As most of the projects I had stated were sanctioned in 2009-10 when the BJP was in the power, the major onus lies on Khanduri and Nishank for failing to take necessary action for the Central projects on time,” said Rawat.

Haridwar MP cited the Horticulture Research Institute at Kotdwara, which has now been shifted to Pune, the Central Sugarcane Research Institute, for which land has not been given by the state government, the Village Development Institute sanctioned for Kotdwara-Pauri, now shifted to Jaipur, as major projects that would have been in Uttarakhand had the government and bureaucrats shown interest.

He also expressed his displeasure over the delay in providing land for the National Disaster Response Force building and the Institute of Electronics and Information Technology by the Centre, but no response had been given by Chief Secretary in this regard.

"The Central Government since 2004 has been assisting Uttarakhand in many ways, particularly in setting up of Central projects. Be it Indian Institute of Management-IIM (Kashipur), National Institute of Technology-NIT (Pauri), granting the Central University status to Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University and All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Rishikesh,” said Rawat.

"I respect Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna for his vision and welcome his reply to my letter. As most of the projects I had stated were sanctioned in 2009-10 when the BJP was in the power, the onus lies on BC Khanduri and Nishank for failing to take necessary action on the Central projects on time."
— Harish Rawat, Union Minister for Water Resources

Congress shielding corrupt, says BJP
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 8
Satish Lakhera, former spokesperson of the BJP has condemned the Congress government for providing protection to the corrupt and ignoring its own misdeeds in the matter pertaining to the Uttarakhand State Seeds and Terai Development Corporation (TDC).

The BJP said in 2008-2009, company secretary of the TDC RK Nigam was dismissed from service by the BJP government for his alleged involvement in the 1.67 crore scam.

"But the first thing the government did was to reinstate him on the post of Company Secretary and also gave him the responsibility of matters pertaining to law," said Satish Lakhera.

He said the high court and the Supreme Court had asked the then BJP government to initiate a CBI or vigilance probe against Nigam. "But instead of punishing the guilty, the Congress government reinstated Nigam," he said.

Land bank to be set up for project implementation: CM
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 8
Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna said the unavailability of land would not come in the way of setting up various Central Government institutions in the state.

During a review of Central schemes at the Secretariat, he directed Chief Secretary Alok Kumar Jain that appropriate action should be ensured to make available land for setting up Central institutions and implementing Central schemes in the state.

He said a land bank should be created in the state for facilitating implementation of schemes and setting up institutions.

He said concerted efforts were needed to ensure that the state got the maximum benefits from the Central schemes. He said a detailed account should be prepared about how many Central and other institutions had been given land and how many were yet to be given land.

It was revealed that 26.555 hectares of land had been earmarked in Laksar in Haridwar district for the NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) which had inspected the land. The NDRF had asked for certain things to be resolved which would soon be done. The state government had also said necessary resources would be made available for setting up one company of the NDRF in Srinagar (Garhwal) and one in Almora.

Eleven acres of land have been earmarked for setting up two nurseries for floriculture in Haridwar. The DM of Haridwar has informed officials of the Agriculture Ministry, Government of India, about this. Land for setting up the National Floriculture Directorate in Dehradun district can be made available to the Central Government.

A proposal has been given by the state Employees Insurance Scheme of Uttarakhand for 45 acres of land free of cost to be given for ESI medical College in Haridwar. Five acres of land for a 100-bed hospital in Sidcul (Haridwar), one acre for dispensary in Pharmacity (Industrial Area-Selaqui), 4 acres for diagnostic centre and hospital at Tarla Nagal and 5 acres for a 100-bed hospital at Kichha in US Nagar have been given.

For setting up a Unani Medical College in Roorkee, the state government has decided to upgrade the community health centre at Bhagwanpur to a Unani Medical College and Hospital. Land has been identified for setting up the Central Sugarcane Research Institute in Haridwar district.

Four villages out of the proposed 9 have been acquired to set up the Deoband-Roorkee railway line. 

Japinder to sue breakaway faction for defamation
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 8
President of the Uttaranchal Sanyukt Sarv Samaj Sangthan Japinder Singh said his organisation had decided to file a Rs 1 crore defamation suit against Ompal Rathi, RL Kardam and Nathu Singh.

He told mediapersons here today that these three persons had been indulging in political activities using the name of the sangathan since January 22.

Rathi, who had joined Japinder in January last year, broke away from the sangathan on January 22 this year. He floated a party with a similar-sounding name but continued to use the name of the sangathan publicly.

Japinder said he came to know through an RTI application that Rathi was running a party by the name of Sanyukt Sarv Samaj and had an office on Inder Road at Dalanwala in Dehradun. He added though the name of his party was different Rathi and his supporters had been using the name of his sangathan. This way they harmed the image of his party.

He said his party decided to file a Rs 1 crore defamation suit against Rathi and his two supporters. This amount would be used in social welfare works, he added.

Japinder said, “Rathi parted ways with me due to his pro-Congress thinking but kept using my party’s name. I did not know that he had registered his party in some other name. It is my party that has been vociferously fighting the permanent resident and caste certificate issues while Rathi and his group have been working as Congress agents.”

Interestingly, Japinder came to know only recently that Rathi was using his party’s name while the latter had been holding protests and dharnas in the name of the sangathan for a long time. Rathi had held a rally on Parade Ground on the issues of caste certificate and permanent residents a few months.

Japinder never challenged Rathi earlier and realised his ignorance about the matter recently. The Rathi group had even hijacked his agenda. The public and the media too remained confused about similar names being used by the two parties. 

Tomato growers to get maximum price in Oct
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 8
Agri-economists at the GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology have forecast that farmers will get the maximum prices of hill tomato, up to Rs 1,200 per quintal, in October.

The forecast has been made on the basis of a study carried out under a sub-project of the National Agriculture Innovation Project (NAIP) of the ICAR. This NAIP project," Establishing and networking of market intelligence centres in India", funded by World Bank is under operation at the university.

One of the objectives of this project is to make price forecast well in advance of the sowing of the selected agricultural commodities and during harvesting.

A research team of Pantnagar had conducted a market survey of Haldwani regulated market, a major market for hill tomato in Uttarakhand, and analysed the wholesale price data prevailed for the past 23 years in this market.

Taking into account the results of the econometric analysis, traders' view and the present rainfall situation, it has been forecast that the price of hill tomato will be ranging between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,150 per quintal at farm level during August and September while it may increase slightly to Rs 1,050-1,200 per quintal in October. Hence, scientists have advised farmers to take sowing decision as per the price forecast.

Tomato is a major vegetable widely produced throughout Uttarakhand where it is grown both in hills as well as in plains.

Women protest sale of liquor
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, April 8
Women from more than 12 villages of the Panchgarhi valley, near Bageshwar district, carrying sickles and sticks today held a protest against the sale of liquor in their villages.

The women walked 2 km in a procession to Baijnath town from the place of their gathering and warned illicit liquor sellers and smugglers to desist from selling liquor in their villages or they would face social boycott. “We have even warned habitual drinkers that now onwards if they come home drunk, they will not be allowed to enter their houses. They will also face social boycott in the villages,” said Chandra Devi, who led the protest.

Chandra said due to increase in the consumption of liquor by the youth of more than 12 villages of the valley, several families had been destroyed.

Youths and social workers also participated in the protest held under the banner of the Panchgarhi Ghati Sangharsh Vilash Samiti. “The initiative of the women in the Panchgarhi valley is praiseworthy and we will keep supporting their movement,” said Chandan Ram Das, MLA, Bageshwar. Later the MLA along with district secretary of the BJP assured the protesters that he would talk to the SP, Bageshwar, regarding the issue. 

Interactive lectures by qualified resource persons from IIPTA
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 8
A workshop on ''Role of Intellectual Property Rights in Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industries'' was organised by the Department of Biotechnology, Dolphin PG Institute of Biomedical and Natural Sciences, Dehradun, in association with Indian Institute of Patent and Trademark Attorney, Delhi, here today.

Intellectual property (IP) is a legal concept which refers to creations of the mind for which exclusive rights are recognised. Under intellectual property law, owners are granted certain exclusive rights to a variety of intangible assets, discoveries and inventions, symbols and designs. Common types of intellectual property rights include copyright, trademarks, patents, industrial design rights, trade dress, and in some jurisdictions trade secrets, including chemical constituents and genetic combinations.

Students of the institute from different disciplines actively participated in the workshop. During the workshop participants learned how pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries can find new patentable ideas. The thrust was on the kind of job opportunities for IPR trained professionals in pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. It is worthwhile to note that these days every industry pays extra attention on IPR issues and tries to get their new products patented to protect them from biopiracy.

The series of interactive lectures were delivered by fully qualified resource persons from IIPTA, Delhi. Faculty members from the Department of Biotechnology Sovan Bagchi, Seema Rawat, Shalini, Archana Vaishnav, Manisha Nanda and Neha Arora were present in the workshop.

Arun Kumar, Director, awarded certificates to all the participants at the end of workshop.

Saints oppose Ganga activists for stance on hydropower projects
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, April 8
A section of the saints affiliated with the Samajik Sena today opposed the Ganga Aviralta Chintan Yatra carried out by Matra Sadan supporters and Ganga activists from Haridwar till Uttarkashi, which concluded yesterday.

At a meeting held at Pahadi Bazaar, Kankhal, here today, Sena activists condemned the anti-hydroelectric project stance of Ganga activists, particularly of Matra Sadan founder Swami Shivanand and Prof GD Aggarwal.

Samajik Sena chief Vinod Maharaj said instead of closing projects on the Ganga, they should keep in mind the development and utilisation of natural resources of the state. “Such projects will provide employment to the local people as well as increase the state's income. However, keeping in mind environment aspect while sanctioning these hydroelectric projects is also important,” said Vinod.

Mata Chandra Kanta, chief of the women's wing of the outfit, said both development and environment conservation should go hand in hand.

Rana Ranbeer Singh, Sarita Purohit, GP Pandey, Prakash Sharma, Sanjay Sharma, Lokesh Kumar, Sandeep Thakur, Dinesh Bharati, Rakesh Shrivastava, Rajat, Satish Kumar, Dimpi and Sarfaraz were present.

Meanwhile, reacting to the Sena stance, Hemant Dhyani of Ganga Aahhwan said saints should be concerned about the Ganga in which they take a holy dip during Mahakumbh. Such projects were proving to be harmful to the river.

RSS leaders resolve to save girl child
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, April 8
RSS leaders in Champawat district today resolved to save the girl child and start an awareness campaign in this regard from Chaitra Shukl Pratipada, the Hindu New Year that begins on April 11.

RSS central committee member Indresh told a huge gathering of Sangh volunteers at Goralchaur ground on the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda that the Chairta Shukla Pratipada is an auspicious occasion for the Hindus and any resolve taken on this day becomes sacred.

The RSS volunteers took part in yoga and a street display, besides intellectual discussions during the function. “The Sangh is active in 110 countries across the globe and its sakhas held daily everywhere are instrumental in spreading the message of the ancient Hindu culture and civilization,” said the RSS leader.

Engineering exam coaching under UPES project to deserving students from remote areas
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 8
University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES), Dehradun, is both sensitive and active towards meeting its social responsibilities. It runs various projects aimed at providing opportunities to the deserving but not so privileged. One such project which UPES runs every year is called Project Abhilasha.

The objectives of this endeavour is to provide free residential coaching for engineering entrance examinations to the bright but deprived students living in remote areas of Uttarakhand. Arun Dhand, Director (Govt & Media ), UPES, informed that every year students from all 13 districts of the state get shortlisted for this camp through the Directorate of Education, Uttarakhand. These students are brought to Dehradun and are given rigorous training with free boarding and lodging facilities for 10 days in physics, chemistry and mathematics, which assists them for engineering entrance examination.

This year the coaching camp started for these students from March 22 and it continued up to April 4. Fortyseven students from various remote areas of Uttarakhand took the benefit of this training camp, including students from far-flung areas of Khatima, Karnaprayag, Tanakpur, Gopeshwar, Champawat, Chamoli, Gairsain and Rudraprayag, out of which 11 are girl students.

The residential camp was held in the campus of Siemet( State Institutes of Educational Management and Training), Directorate of Education, Uttarakhand. The students were made to stay in their campus itself. The students enjoyed not only the training classes but they also got the opportunity to brush up their knowledge from the best of teaching faculty. Many new friendships were formed between them during the course of this camp.

At the valedictory function of Project Abhilasha held at UPES on April 5, the students were exposed to the flavour of technology when they interacted through video conferencing with Kamal Singh, Director General , National HRD Network, from Delhi. The students were highly inspired and motivated by the talk.

CS Gwal, Director, Directorate of Education, Uttarakhand, with some other officials were present in the function. He appreciated the efforts taken by UPES and he assured more support in future from the Directorate of Education for the Abhilasha project. Present during the valedictory function were Utpal Ghosh, Pro Vice Chancellor, Shrihari, Campus Director, Mandira Agarwal, Deputy Director, CSR, and Bhawna Lamba, Assistant Professor.

A number of students shared their vivid experiences on Project Abhilasha and requested to continue this programme every year.

Preparations for civic bodies’ poll begin in Champawat
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, April 8
Preparations for the civic bodies’ election started in Champawat district today with direction to returning officers to work with honesty and transparency.

“We have instructed officials on election duty to be ready from the day of filing of nomination papers on April 8 and be alert till the voting is over on April 28,” said Dipti Singh, Assistant Returning Officer, Champawat district.

The District Returning Officer, who is also the District Magistrate, Champawat, Sridhar Babu Addakhi, said 27 persons had been disqualified from contesting the election as they had not deposited their details of expenses incurred during the local civic bodies’ election held in 2008. “These people were given time to put forth their views after they were issued notices by the Uttarakhand Election Commission last year. Since they failed to respond to the notices, their candidatures were rejected this time,” said BC Srivastava, Assistant Returning Officer for panchayat election in the district.

Meanwhile, the Sitarganj subdivision administration has removed election posters from government buildings. It had also told private building owners to take its permission before allowing the candidates to display posters on their buildings.

“We along with Nagar Palika officials launched a campaign to remove election material from government buildings today,” said Manish Kumar Singh, SDM, Sitarganj.

The Pithoragarh district administration issued an order cancelling leave of all employees with immediate effect as the process of the civic bodies’ election had started

“We have also banned the use of polythene bags for election purposes,” said CMS Bisht, District Magistrate, Pithoragarh.